Difference between revisions of "Challenging an adjective with "shenme""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | + | Adding 什么 (shénme) after an adjective can be used to form a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetorical_question| rhetorical question]. The speaker is implying that there's no good reason to be [adjective]. | |
| − | Adding 什么(shénme) | ||
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Adj. + 什么 (+ Adj.) | + | Adj. + 什么 (+ Adj.) (+ 啊 / 呀) ？ |
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | Note that in this pattern, adjectives and [[psychological verb]]s both work equally well. We haven't distinguished between the two in the examples below, but that shouldn't present any problems. | |
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | + | *<em>胖 什么 胖</em> 啊，在 北方，这样的 人 很 常见。<span class="pinyin"><em>Pàng shénme pàng</em> a, zài běifāng, zhèyàng de rén hěn chángjiàn.</span><span class="trans">Who are you calling fat? People like this are common in the north.</span> | |
| − | *<em>紧张 什么</em> 啊，你 不 是 上 过 好 几 次 舞台 了 | + | *<em>大 什么 大</em> 啊，四 个 人 住在 一起，房间 太 小 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Dà shénme dà</em> a, sì gè rén zhùzài yīqǐ, fángjiān tài xiǎo le.</span><span class="trans">You call this big? If you have four people living here together it's too small.</span> |
| − | *<em> | + | *<em>高 什么</em> 啊，上海 还有 更 高的 大楼。<span class="pinyin"><em>Gāo shénme</em> a, Shànghǎi háiyǒu gèng gāo de dàlóu.</span><span class="trans">What do you mean, "tall"? There are even taller buildings in Shanghai.</span> |
| − | * | + | *<em>累 什么 累</em> 啊，你 一 个 星期 只 工作 四 天。<span class="pinyin"><em>Lèi shénme lèi</em> a, nǐ yī gè xīngqī zhī gōngzuò sì tiān.</span><span class="trans">How are you tired? You only work four days a week.</span> |
| − | * | + | *<em>聪明 什么</em> 啊，比 我 聪明 的 人 有 很 多 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cōngming shénme</em> a, bǐ wǒ cōngming de rén yǒu hěnduō.</span><span class="trans">Smart? There are a lot of people smarter than me.</span> |
| − | + | *<em>紧张 什么</em> 啊，你 不 是 上 过 好 几 次 舞台 了 吗 ？应该 早 就 习惯 了 吧。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnzhāng shénme</em> a, nǐ bù shì shàng guo hǎo jǐ cì wǔtái le ma? Yīnggāi zǎo jiù xíguàn le ba.</span><span class="trans">What are you nervous for? Haven't you been on stage a bunch of times? You should be used to it by now.</span> | |
| + | *<em>担心 什么</em> 啊，肯定 可以 买到 票 的。<span class="pinyin"><em>Dānxīn shénme</em> a, kěndìng kěyǐ mǎi dào piào de.</span><span class="trans">What are you worried about? We'll definitely be able to buy the tickets.</span> | ||
| + | *<em>难过 什么</em> 啊，以后 还 会 再 见 的。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nánguò shénme</em> a, yǐhòu hái huì zài jiàn de.</span><span class="trans">What are you sad about? We'll meet again for sure.</span> | ||
| + | *<em>郁闷 什么</em> 呀，看看 这 蓝蓝的 天空，绿绿的 田园，生活 多 美好 啊！<span class="pinyin"><em>Yùmèn shénme</em> ya, kàn-kan zhè lánlán de tiānkōng, lǜlǜ de tiányuán, shēnghuó duō měihǎo a!</span><span class="trans">Why so glum? Look at that blue sky, those green fields. Life is so wonderful!</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | If the adjective or verb is repeated after the 什么 as in the | + | If the adjective or psychological verb is repeated after the 什么 as in some of the examples above, it acts to give further emphasis. It almost has a tone of incredulity, a bit like "what on earth are you worried/anxious about?" Generally only single character adjectives can be used in this way. |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li class="o"> | + | <li class="o">你 <em>忙 什么 忙</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>máng shénme máng</em>?</span><span class="trans">What are you busy with?</span></li> |
| − | <li class="x"> | + | <li class="x">你 <em>紧张 什么 紧张</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jǐnzhāng shénme jǐnzhāng</em>? |
| + | <li class="o">你 <em>紧张 什么</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jǐnzhāng shénme</em>? | ||
| + | </span><span class="trans">What are you nervous about?</span></li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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== Sources and Further Reading == | == Sources and Further Reading == | ||
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[[Category: Adjectives]] | [[Category: Adjectives]] | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|什么| | + | {{Basic Grammar|什么||Adj. + 什么？|你<em>急 什么 急</em>，还 早 着 呢。|grammar point|ASGNV2TZ}} |
| − | {{Similar|Challenging a | + | {{Similar|Challenging a verb with "shenme"}} |
{{Used for|Asking questions}} | {{Used for|Asking questions}} | ||
{{POS|Adjectives}} | {{POS|Adjectives}} | ||
Latest revision as of 10:13, 23 December 2020
Adding 什么 (shénme) after an adjective can be used to form a rhetorical question. The speaker is implying that there's no good reason to be [adjective].
Structure
Adj. + 什么 (+ Adj.) (+ 啊 / 呀) ？
Note that in this pattern, adjectives and psychological verbs both work equally well. We haven't distinguished between the two in the examples below, but that shouldn't present any problems.
Examples
- 胖 什么 胖 啊，在 北方，这样的 人 很 常见。Who are you calling fat? People like this are common in the north.
- 大 什么 大 啊，四 个 人 住在 一起，房间 太 小 了。You call this big? If you have four people living here together it's too small.
- 高 什么 啊，上海 还有 更 高的 大楼。What do you mean, "tall"? There are even taller buildings in Shanghai.
- 累 什么 累 啊，你 一 个 星期 只 工作 四 天。How are you tired? You only work four days a week.
- 聪明 什么 啊，比 我 聪明 的 人 有 很 多 。Smart? There are a lot of people smarter than me.
- 紧张 什么 啊，你 不 是 上 过 好 几 次 舞台 了 吗 ？应该 早 就 习惯 了 吧。What are you nervous for? Haven't you been on stage a bunch of times? You should be used to it by now.
- 担心 什么 啊，肯定 可以 买到 票 的。What are you worried about? We'll definitely be able to buy the tickets.
- 难过 什么 啊，以后 还 会 再 见 的。What are you sad about? We'll meet again for sure.
- 郁闷 什么 呀，看看 这 蓝蓝的 天空，绿绿的 田园，生活 多 美好 啊！Why so glum? Look at that blue sky, those green fields. Life is so wonderful!
If the adjective or psychological verb is repeated after the 什么 as in some of the examples above, it acts to give further emphasis. It almost has a tone of incredulity, a bit like "what on earth are you worried/anxious about?" Generally only single character adjectives can be used in this way.
- 你 忙 什么 忙 ？What are you busy with?
- 你 紧张 什么 紧张 ？
- 你 紧张 什么 ？What are you nervous about?
